Russian folkloric references to reanimated corpses

[Rafael Shusterovich]

Something like "мертвяк" would do. That is, a noun derived from dead- or
mort-.

On Sat, Dec 25, 2010 at 4:43 PM, Leigh Kimmel <leighkimmel at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I'm looking for terms a Russian in the middle of the 20th century might use
> to refer to a reanimated corpse. I'm writing a story set in besieged
> Leningrad for a horror anthology, and I'm trying to avoid the term "zombie,"
> which is specifically Afro-Caribbean in etymology and cultural association.
>
> It doesn't necessarily have to be traditional or "high" folklore -- even
> the sort of stories kids use to scare each other spitless on a dark night
> would do just as well. The biggest thing is to try to get a term that
> doesn't jar the reader with associations of voodoo and the like.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Leigh Kimmel -- writer, artist, historian and bookseller
> leighkimmel at yahoo.com     http://www.leighkimmel.com/
> http://www.billionlightyearbookshelf.com/
> http://www.amazon.com/shops/starshipcat/
>
>
>
>
>
>
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